What’s My Story?

I am not a writer. I don’t have pretty words or big ideas. I don’t live an extraordinary life or have a wealth of knowledge to share. In fact, most of the time, I’m kind of a mess. I constantly walk a fine line between good intentions and “Screw it, I give up.” I’m like a lot of people that way, I think.

So I am a rather ordinary being living a pretty simple life. And honestly, I’m fine with it. I like ordinary. I like simple. So what am I doing here… writing when I’m not a writer… sharing when I just said that I really don’t have much to share? Well, I think it all started with this.

“Describe Who You Are.”

A few weeks ago, Facebook asked me to describe who I am in 101 characters or less and share it with the world. I didn’t because what the hell, Facebook…let me live, but it did get me thinking. And then an online buddy of mine asked all of her Facebook friends to answer this question.

“What’s your story?”

She asked us to think specifically about our impact on the world and to be aware of how this was different from the roles we play. Here’s what I wrote:

“I don’t know. Honestly, I’m not sure that I do have an impact on the world, really… beyond the raising up and nurturing of my kids who will hopefully have their own impact on the world. I don’t know that I really have a strong sense of my own story that is separate from the roles I play. I am kind to people, and I keep putting one foot in front of the other. I do a mediocre job at most things, and I’m mostly okay with that. I don’t have big dreams, but I do often want more from myself. I love my family fiercely. Is that a story?”

Is that a story? I don’t know. It’s the truth though, and it stuck with me.

And that’s why I’m here, I guess. To carve out a place to record the common, beautiful mess that is my life…my story, if you will. I don’t promise that there will be any inspiring, self-discoveries along the way. It probably won’t be deep. It sure as hell won’t be grammatically correct, and it may not even be interesting.

But whatever it does turn out to be, it will be mine, and I’m thinking (or I’m hoping anyway) that it will be enough.